The Seattle Sounders finished a successful 2-match
trip to California by beating the San Francisco Bay Seals 4-2. An own goal
by SF Bay's defender Todd Duncan was the only score in the first half.
Early in the second half, the Sounders pulled away, scoring thrice in 8
minutes. Ian Russell was taken down to give Sean Henderson a penalty kick
for the second goal, then Henderson scored from the run of play a few minutes
later. Mark Baena finished Seattle's scoring less than a minute later after
Oliver Heald stole the ball after the kickoff and gave it to Baena. SF
Bay found the net too late with a pair of goals by Ali John Utush and Stale
Sobye; by then Seattle's win seemed certain.

San Francisco Bay started two MLS players, forward Marquis White loaned
from the Colorado Rapids and midfielder Braedon Cloutier loaned from the
San Jose Clash. While the Sounders are also "affiliated" with those same
two MLS sides, no players have been loaned by MLS to Seattle, not even
when Seattle needed help due to injuries.

First Half

San Francisco Bay, with the wind in the first half, had all of the shots
in the first 15 minutes. Jorge Salazar tested goalkeeper Bill May in the
2nd minute with a 35-yard shot, forcing a dive by May to push the ball
wide and concede a corner kick. A Seals shot from 25 yards was sent high
and wide. SF Bay's best chance of the half came at 10' when May was cautioned
for handling the ball just outside the penalty area. Salazar put the resulting
18-yard free kick past May and off the crossbar.

The Sounders found some offense at beginning 16 minutes in when Scott
Jenkins volleyed Shan Gaw's corner kick just wide of goal. The Sounders
peppered goalkeeper Greg Connell beginning in the 23rd minute when Gaw's
20-yarder forced a tough save and Ian Russell's put-back shot from the
rebound was saved and held. At 30' Mark Baena fed Russell for an excellent
opportunity, but Connell saved the hard shot on the line. Ralph Robertson
forced another save a minute later, then soon earned another chance, sent
just wide.

38' SF Bay own goal. Oliver Heald's cross was played by Todd
Duncan's thigh over his keeper and into the net for an own goal to give
Seattle the lead.

Promptly after the kickoff, Henderson earned a good chance but Robert
Gallo blocked the shot.

In the last few minutes of the half, SF Bay regained the momentum as
Salazar's half-volley was on goal but easily saved by May, then Stale Sobye
fed Shani Simpson for a good shot, also saved by May.

Halftime: San Francisco Bay 0 - 1 Seattle

Coach Neil Megson's halftime talk must have been on the money, as Seattle
pulled well clear of SF Bay early in the second half. Jason Annicchero
got an early chance with a header when Connell came out after the ball,
but the shot was sent wide of the open net.

51' Henderson (PK). Russell beat a man to penetrate into the
penalty area, then he was taken down to earn the penalty kick. Henderson
put the spot kick into the lower left corner for the 2-0 Sounders lead.

58' Henderson (Jenkins). Baena carried the ball into the danger
zone and when he couldn't earn a shot, he dropped to Jenkins, who passed
to Henderson, who put away his second goal in 7 minutes. 0-3 Seattle.

59' Baena (Heald). After the kickoff, Oliver Heald stole the
ball 25 yards from SF Bay's goal. Heald passed left to an open Baena, who
rifled a shot into the top far corner. 0-4 Seattle.

Henderson had a chance at a hat trick when he took a drop pass and shot
far post, but Connell made the diving save.

Baena was robbed when he netted the ball at 67' but was flagged offside.
Baena made a nicely timed run onto Henderson's cross and headed past Connell
from 10 yards, but an apparently erroneous offside call negated the fine
effort, which would have given Baena the league lead for goals. Instead,
Baena is now tied with Staten Island's Ernest Inneh
with 18 goals for the season.

69' Utush (Simpson). Just after coming
on as a substitute, Ali John Utush scored on his first touch of the match
after being set up by Shani Simpson. SF Bay 1 - 4 Seattle.

Seattle had a few more chances to put on the rout.
At 75' Jenkins' cross wandered on goal and had to be pushed over the bar
by Connell. Henderson had a last chance at a hat trick at 81' when he tried
for a diving header but couldn't quite reach the ball. Substitute Randy
Mann's shot from Viet Nguyen's drop was deflected just wide. And Heald
was just wide with a shot.

84' Sobye (Gore). Gore's serve was flicked by Stale Sobye over
May and in for the final score of SF Bay 2-4 Seattle.

Final: San Francisco Bay 2 - 4 Seattle

The Sounders now have a 4-match home stand before travelling up I-5
to Vancouver for the last match of the A-League regular season. The Sounders'
last two matches are both against Vancouver and will be interesting since
Vancouver is currently three points ahead of Seattle in the race for 2nd
place in the Pacific Division.